HIV & STIs
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Overview
Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are characterised by a slow onset of symptoms. Many STIs go on to affect multiple body systems. HIV / AIDS was first identified in approximately 1985, and has since spread by homosexual and heterosexual contacts, as well as through shared drug injection equipment, blood transfusions, and via blood-derived therapeutic products. Modern anti-retroviral medication means that HIV need not progress to AIDS, and so some of the stigma surrounding HIV has subsided.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) affects the human immune system, such that the body becomes susceptible to infections and tumours that would not usually be able to cause disease. This is Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It's a viral disease spread by sexual contact and contact with bodily fluids. It is not curable but can be treated and managed using anti – retroviral drugs, which can help to slow down the progress of the disease and delay the onset of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), the late stage of HIV disease where the immune system is significantly impaired.
HIV is a global epidemic with an estimated 33.4 million people affected worldwide. Today the highest prevalence of HIV infection occurs in sub-Saharan Africa. 2.7 million People were newly infected in 2008. Combating HIV is one of the Millennium Development goals.
Background
HIV continues to present enormous challenges, not least to Christian churches – in that open discussion of sexual behaviour is taboo, caring for infected couples raises questions about marital unfaithfulness, Christians are frequently criticised for giving insufficient emphasis to condom promotion, and many young adults in and near to church communities have died, leaving AIDS orphans who need care and support.
The most recent report from the WHO shows that some countries have succeeded in providing universal access to antiretrovirals and there have been a big reduction in mother to child transmission, however global targets were not achieved by 2010 and therefore there is an increasing need for projects in this area.
In the Community
HIV/Aids Community based programmes are encouraged to focus on 4 main areas:- Prevention. Through counselling, and community focused methods. Also reducing stigma.
- Voluntary HIV counselling and testing.
- Home based care of PLWHA (people living with HIV and aids)
- Treatment with drugs. Including Antiretrovirals and HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy)
Once a good understanding is gained about HIV/Aids in the given community one can start to plan a response. This involves several steps.
Step 1: Form a team. Of people committed to caring for those with HIV. It may be health care professionals, teachers, or those with family members with HIV.
Step 2: Identify specific risk situations. This will vary between different communities
Step 3: Help Communities learn together.
Step 4: Develop community care and counselling
Step 5: Link the community responses to HIV with general processes of treatment within health can infrastructure
Step 6: Obtaining additional funds
Related Organisations
Related Papers and Research
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